Tongs



S. B. HEPPENSTALL Why 15, 1923.

TONGS Filed A112. 6 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 \IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII),

2&55513 May 15, m3.

S. B. HEPPENSTALL TONGS Filed Aug. @[1921 1 Sheets-Sheet a may 15,.1923. I S. B. HEPPENSTALL TONGS 4 Shets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 6, 1921 S. B. HEPPENSTALL TONGS File'd Aug. 6,1921 4 sheets-s am 4 Patented May 15, 1923.

SAMUEL B. HEPPENS'IALL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

TONGS.

Application filed August 6, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. HEPPEN- STALL, a resident of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tongs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to tongs, and is particularly useful in handling metal products, such as billets, ingots, and similar articles.

An object of my invention is a device of the character described, which has a variable range of operation. A further object is such a device wherein the gripping members are pivoted at two points, and means are provided for changing both of the pivoted points so as to change the range of the gripping members with a substantially fixed gripping and releasing movement throughout the range.

A further object of my invention is such a device which is simple in construction and operation and which is rugged and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Further objects will be apparent from a reading of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a part of the operating mechanism;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the gripping mechanism;

Figure 4 is a partial section of the operating mechanism;

Figure 5 is a section showing details of construction Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 show enlarged details of certain parts; and

Figures 10 and 11 are diagrams illustrating some of the operative principles of my invention.

The device as shown in Figure 1 comprises gripping members 1 and 2. Each of these members is pivoted at one end 3 and at a point 4, intermediate its ends. The pivoted point 3 comprises a pin 5, passing through a block 6, which is arranged to slide in a slot 7, in a cross head member 8. The pivotal point at is on a bell crank lever 9, which lever is pivoted at 10 to a head 11, best shown in Figure 4. The other end of the bell crank lever 9 is pivoted to a movable head 12, as best shown in Figure 4, by a pin Serial No. 490,377.'

13 passing through a block 14, arranged to slide in a slot 15 in the head 12. Each of the gripping members 1 and 2 is provided with a aw 16. This jaw is pivoted in the gripping members at 17, and has an extension 18 thereon to which is pivotally connected a pin 19 and around which are placed springs 20, shown in detail in Figure 6. The springs 20 are under compression and act in opposition to each other so as to hold the Jaws 16 in a predetermined position, and at the same time the arrangement is such that the aws may move in either direction around the pivot 17, when pressure is applied by the closing of the gripping members.

The head 11 is carried by a casing 21,- as shown in Figures 1 and 2. A gear wheel 22 is rigidly connected to the casing 21, and meshing with the gear 22 is a pinion 28. A rod 23 extends through the casing 21 and connects with the movable head 8, which is provided with the slots 7, and its operation will appear later. I

The movable head 12 is connected to a yoke 24, as best shown in Figures 4 and 5. This yoke comprises two members which are rotatably fastened to a casing25 at the point 26, and at their other end are bolted together and to the movable head 12 by bolts or rivets 27.

Figures 10 and 11 are diagrams illustrat ing a principle of operation of my device. Figure 10 shows the device at its maximum range. The dotted position of the jaw shows the position of the device when in its full contracted or gripping position. The distance A represents the gripping and release movement of the gripping members, and this movement is substantially constant throughout the entire range of the device.

Figure 11 shows the device at its minimum range and the dotted position of the jaw shows the position of the device in its full gripping position. The distance B in Figure 11 represents the grip and release movement, and it will be noted that this distance is equal to the distance A. The difference between the separation of the jaws in Figure 10 and the separation of the jaws in Figure 11 represents the range of the device.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that my device has means for changing the range of the gripping members and means for causing a substantially uniform gripping and releasing operation throughout that range. v

The operation of my device is as follows: With the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, if itis desired-to open the tongs to their maximum point, any suitable power is applied to the rod 23 to move the same longitudinally to the right. That movement causes the head 8 to move to the right and bring the pivoted ends of the gripping members 1. and 2 closer together, thus throwing the aws 16 apart. The pinion 28 is then rotated which causes the gear22 to rotate, thus, in turn, rotating the casing 21, whichis provided with an internal screwthread 29, which is threaded to similar threads on the casing 25. In the assumed instance, the direction of movement would be such as to cause the member 25 to move to the right, as shown in Figure 2. The movable head 12 being connected to the member 25, through the yoke 2%, is moved to the right, thus rotating the bell crank levers 9 around their pivots so as to separate the pivotal points i on the gripping members to the maximum extent, whereupon the parts will assume the position shown in Figure 3. If a gripping operation is to take place, the gripping members are placed over the article30 to be handled,

and the gripping members rotated around their pivots 4, by moving the rod 23 to the left. Obviously, to move the device from the position shown in Figure 3, to that shown in Figure 1, the operation above described will be reversed.

I From the foregoing, it will be evident that my invention has many advantages resulting from the provision of means for varying the range of operation of the gripping members. By the construction shown, tongs are provided which can be used for operation upon a great-variety of sizes-of articles, and at the same time, the gripping and release mechanism may bee-so arranged as to produce the required pressure to hold articles of great weight. This advantage arises from the arrangement whereby the intermediate pivotal points of the gripping members may be varied and the gripping and release movements remain substantially uniform, regardless of the position of the intermediate points.

Many other advantages will be apparen to those skilled in the art.

l/Vhile I have described one embodiment of my invention in great detail, I desire it to be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact arrangement shown and described, as many detail changes may be made therein, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1, Tongs comprising gripping members,

each having a separate pivotal mounting, and means for simultaneously moving said mountings laterally to vary the operating range of the tongs, substantially as described.

' 2. Tongsxcomprising a plurality of gripping members, each having a separate pivrange of the tongs, and means for swinging the members aroundsa-id mountings, substantially as described. 4. Tongs comprising a plurality of gripping members, and a plurality of independently movable means for uniformly moving said members for causing the same to grip and release, substantially as described.

5. Tongs comprising a plurality of gripping members, and a plurality of means for uniformly moving said members for causing the same to grip and release, one of said means being efi'ective for changing the effective operating range through which the gripping members are moved by the other means, substantially as described. 6.'Tongs comprising gripping members, each pivoted at two points, means for changing one of said points to vary the range of the tongs, and means forchangingthe other of said points to cause said means to grip and release, substantially as described.

7 Tongs comprising gripping members, each pivoted at one end and at a point intermediate its ends, means for changing the intermediate point to vary the range of the tongs,and means for changing the end point to cause said tongs to grip and release, substantially as described.

8. Tongscomprising gripping members, each pivoted at two points, and means for separating said tongs at said pivotal points, independently of'each other, substantially as described. a

9. Tongs comprising gripping members, each pivoted at one end andata point intermediate its ends, means for rotating said members around their intermediate points,

and means for varying the distance between release, substantially as described.

11. Tongs comprising gripping members having uniform grip and release movements, and means for uniformly moving said members for changing the maximum and minimum range of the grip and release movements, substantially as described.

12. Tongs comprising gripping members, each having a plurality of pivotal mountings, and means for changing the position of all of said mountings, substantially as described.

13. Tongs comprising gripping members, each having a plurality of pivotal mountings, and a plurality of means for changing all of said mountings, one of said means being effective to vary the operating range of the tongs, substantially as described.

14. Tongs comprising gripping members, each pivoted at one end and at a point intermediate its ends, and means for changing both of said pivotal points, substantially as described.

15. Tongs comprising gripping members,

17. Tongs comprising gripping members, v

each pivoted at one end and at a point intermediate its ends, means for rotating said members around their intermediate points, and means for uniformly moving said intermediate pivotal points laterally, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

SAMUEL 13. HEPPENSTALL. 

